Plainsong

I happen to come across this gem of a "made-for-T.V.-movie" while vegetating in a hotel room on a business trip. I was pleasantly surprise to see Rachel Griffth in a Hallmark movie. She and Aidan Quinn lent a jolt of electricity to the story that no other actors could. Geoffrey Lewis turned in a helluva a performance in the role of one of the mentally challenged brothers that come to the rescue of a few of the character in the bitter-sweet tale of fractured life in present-day, rural Colorado. America Ferrara has been blessed with the same fierce but sympathetic spark that made Lili Taylor so brilliant in Dogfight. I reccomend this movie not just because it is so good and real but because it is the rare 'good' T.V. dramas that the whole family can watch.

I loved the book and I loved the tv version. Every actor was superb. I skipped the Sopranos to watch this and I'm glad I did. Bravo to everyone associated with it. Aidan Quinn was so right as the dad and Brenda from Six Feet Under was perfect as the girlfriend. The three seniors in the story were best of all, the two ranchers and the old lady who dies. I could not get over how moving they were. Then there were the two little boys. They were real, not at all actor-y. The film managed to convey and America so at variance from the cold place many of us experience. It almost made me want to head west. One last thing: the thuggy teenager was also fine as were his repulsive parents. BUT BEST OF ALL was the writing.

This is a gentle, low key story about a pregnant 17 year old girl whose mother rejects her, and the people who rise to the occasion and care for her. It's very well cast with America Ferrera (the young actress from "Real Women Have Curves) as the girl, Aidan Quinn and Rachel Griffiths as the high school teachers and Megan Follows (Anne Shirley from the wonderful Sullivan Films production of "Anne of Green Gables") as Quinn's wife. It was lovely to see Marion Seldes on screen again too. The story is predictable, but the writing and acting is lovely. If you like gentle dramas and very real characters, this made for TV (Hallmark Hall of Fame) movie will be worth your time.

"Plainsong" is a touching story about how people you would least likely suspect can help you at the time you need it most. Tom just had his wife leave him and his two boys. If that's not enough, he has to deal with a delinquent student assaulting him and then being forced to pass the kid. His boys, feeling weighted by their mother, look for attention in the form of an old lady and two brothers who live all by themselves. Meanwhile, Victoria is saddled with a baby sired by a boy who refuses to take responsibility for his actions. She gets help from a teacher at school, who is also Tom's love interest. Everyone comes together with two old brothers who live all alone when they all find a way to help everyone else and put their own problems aside.

Content Description Sex: Sex between teens is implied when a girl becomes pregnant. Language: None Violence: A few mild fist fights. Drugs: None Nudity: None James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 3/19/2021

Plainsong is an excellent example of a book that should never have been made into a movie. It would take at least a mini-series to do justice for this novel. ANyone who has not read the book would be lost for a good portion of the film. Aiden Quinn made an excellent performance. Good casting for the McPheron brothers. Because I have read the book, I had high expectations for this movie, even if it was for tv (and Hallmark for that matter). However, the movie did have a 'simplicity' to it, which is the most credit it can get in comparison to its book. I would encourage anyone who found any interest in the film to read the book. In lieu of remakes, I suggest mini-series sans greeting card commercials.